UNISON: “Stop wasting time on Outsourcing – work with staff and unions”
Barnet UNISON have submitted our report to Barnet Council Environmental Committee which is meeting on Thursday 28 September to discuss outsourcing options for Street Scene Services.
One of the biggest risks is not classified as a risk, but a dependency (p37, IOBC). This is very surprising since the ADM “…is operationally dependent on the relocation of the depot facilities. Any delay, or unforeseen amendment, to the depot relocation will not only have a subsequent impact on day-to-day service delivery operations (‘business as usual’) but could also impact the delivery of the ADM.” (Barnet UNISON report 2016)
Our report makes the following recommendations
- The Barnet Group option is not an in-house option. Two of the options involve The Barnet Group, but in practice there is only one option as the In-house (pre December 2015) option is not sustainable. Furthermore, there is a direct conflict of interest, no ethical wall is in place and both options could not proceed to a procurement process.
- One of the biggest risks is not classified as a risk, but a dependency (p37, IOBC). This is very surprising since the ADM “…is operationally dependent on the relocation of the depot facilities. Any delay, or unforeseen amendment, to the depot relocation will not only have a subsequent impact on day-to-day service delivery operations (‘business as usual’) but could also impact the delivery of the ADM.”
- The ADM should be stopped and resources redirected to recruiting the required senior management and embarking on transformation strategy to deliver innovative and improved in-house services and meet financial targets.
- The Council should recruit new senior management for the Street Scene Delivery Unit to implement the transformation programme as a matter or urgency.
- A forward-looking in-house plan should be prepared, focused on innovation and improvement with in-house management.
- Staff and trade unions should be fully engaged in the design, planning and implementation of the transformation programme.
- The planned public consultation should be delayed and revised to engage service users, community organisations, businesses and civil society organisations in Barnet in contributing to and implementing the transformation programme.
- We recommend the main and sub-criteria are substantially revised for the next stage of the IOBC process.
- Complete the Employee Equality Impact Analysis as soon as possible so that a full impact assessment can be carried out of the potential effects on staff.
- The Council should not divide Street Scene services into ‘lots’ for contracting (learning the lessons from the May Gurney recycling contract), but concentrate on increased coordination and integration of services.
To view full report click link barnet-unison-street-scene
BREAKING NEWS: 100% vote to end Term Time Pay in Schools
BREAKING NEWS: 100% of Barnet UNISON members working in Barnet Schools voted YES in a Poll to “End to Term-Time Pay in Schools”
The issue of Term Time Pay has reached the attention of national media in recent weeks as a result of a number of disputes of Teaching Assistants in Derby and Durham.
Last week “UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis left the TUC conference in Brighton to join the teaching assistants on Parliament Square.
He told them that all of UNISON’s 1.3 million members were behind them and said “these cuts are happening because of the cruel squeeze on finances from Westminster, as the government continues its austerity fuelled war on public services.”
He also said that how they have been treated by their council is a disgrace.” https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2016/09/derby-lobby/
The above report was addressed to the striking Derby Teaching Assistants who came down to the House of Commons to highlight the brutal impact of the 25% pay cut by their employer Derby City Council.
In Durham, Teaching Assistants are facing a 23% pay cut and whilst they are currently being balloted on an offer, the grassroots feedback is that it will be rejected.
The two disputes Derby & Durham have raised the profile for the launch of a wider campaign that has been needed for more than a decade.
In Barnet, UNISON are well aware of the dedication, hard work and unpaid hours that our members deliver to provide high quality education for children. In particular our members have played a critical role in delivering the inclusion agenda in schools which is something we should all be proud of.
The imposition of Term-Time Pay (TTP) openly discriminates against low paid female workers.
For those unfamiliar with TTP, it is not applicable to Teachers. Teachers are covered by a national agreement and whilst they do work term time only they are paid as full time employees.
However, in the case of the rest of staff working in schools they are not treated a full time employees hence TTP.
In Derby and Durham the teaching assistant are clearly not prepared to lose 25% without a fight.
Barnet UNISON members have confirmed through our Poll that they support the proposal that all staff working in a school should be treated equally with teachers as full time employees.
Recent developments:
In June 2016 at UNISON conference: “UNISON is to campaign for school workers across the UK to be employed during every week of the year, local government delegates in Brighton declared this afternoon.”
In July 2016 at the Durham Miners Gala Jeremy Corbyn gave an electrifying speech and took the opportunity in his speech to issue a message of solidarity for the Durham Teaching Assistants. “Get it sorted!” listen here https://youtu.be/wd8yZLcIFCs
In August 2016 Jeremy Corbyn issued a much more substantial message
“The government must fund teaching assistants every week of the year”
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2016/08/30/jeremy-corbyn-pledge-to-end-term-time-pay-in-schools/
John Burgess, Barnet UNISON Branch Secretary said: “Now that Jeremy has been re-elected Leader of the Labour Party, now is the time to support the UNISON statement made at conference to “campaign for school workers across the UK to be employed during every week of the year.” We are asking all of our members, their family and friends to sign Petition to Prime Minister Theresa May to end Term Time Pay in Schools https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-end-term-time-pay-in-schools . We all agree in UNISON that Term Time Pay is discriminatory. Time for talking is over. Time for action is now. Solidarity.”
Message to Barnet UNISON Library workers – John Burgess
recruiting on a picket line
To Barnet UNISON Library workers
I wanted to provide you with an update following a meeting with management on Monday 12th September 2016.
Firstly I requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive so I can raise my concerns about the proposals and present again another option that negates the need to implement this destruction of the Barnet Library service. I am due to meet him on Monday 26 September at 10 am. I will report back on this meeting later that week.
I have also requested an urgent meeting with the Leader of the Council. I believe that the proposed destruction of the Library Service is unnecessary and can be avoided.
In our union meeting last week I mentioned that I had seen the agency/consultancy paid by Barnet Council. Below is the agency/consultancy spend for the past four years and at a time when the size of the council workforce is shrinking year on year with outsourcing and redundancies.
- 2012/13 £12,526,943
- 2013/14 £13,775,546
- 2014/15 £15,538,090
- 2015/16 £17,907,052
In 2015/16 the agency spend increased to £17,907,052
In the first quarter of this financial year the Council has already paid out £6.9 million which, if it continues could see the Council break £20 million on agency/consultants.
In my view the Councils agency/consultancy costs are out of control and as you can all see it is increasing year on year.
The contractors providing agency workers and consultants will charge a commission to the Council. Looking at the figures over the last four years the commission paid to contractors would easily pay the Library savings.
The Council may respond that they are able to stop this escalation and are putting in systems and controls on spend. Well I’m afraid they said that before. Last autumn a resident John Dix asked a question about agency spend and he was told “agency levels should fall by 15% by the end of 2015/16.” (read full response here)
As you can see the spend for 2015/16 was £17,907,052
My offer on the negotiating table is quite simple.
Drop the current proposal and work with staff, residents on building and developing all of the Libraries in Barnet including plans to develop further in response to the rapid growth in the local population.
The savings required by the Library service will be generated by tackling the out of control agency/consultancy spend.
Last week two messages of support were given by Jeremy Corbyn
You can view the message from Jeremy here http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2016/09/20/jeremy-corbyn-backs-barnet-unison-library-workers/
and John here http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2016/09/20/john-mcdonnell-backs-barnet-unison-library-workers/
Strike action
Hugh Jordan will be back week commencing 26 September and a message will be going out in relation to the next strike action we discussed last week in the event the Council continue with their planned destruction.
Barnet UNISON Petition for Library workers
Please sign, get family and friends to sign
5th November demo
Be ready to join this national demonstration you can leave comments on facebook link here https://www.facebook.com/events/282708008768589/
Links to Library destruction
‘It is not a transformation, it is a destruction’ – Barnet’s UNISON branch call to save library jobs
A Library without staff what could possibly go wrong?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXmk6I8DdPM
Austerity for whom – in Barnet Council?
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2016/09/17/austerity-for-whom-in-barnet-council/
Barnet UNISON: Further Response to the Library Restructure Staff Consultation
Social Media
You can follow @Barnet_Unison on Twitter
Barnet UNISON Face Book here https://www.facebook.com/BarnetUNISON/
Solidarity
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON
John McDonnell backs Barnet UNISON Library workers
Jeremy Corbyn backs Barnet UNISON Library workers
Austerity for whom – in Barnet Council?
Thanks to Barnet Blogger Mr Reasonable for tracking all Barnet Council payments over £500. The data is produced every quarter on the Council web site. All Council must publish this data.
In 2012 Barnet Council employed 2784 staff and consultant spend was £7,732, 269
In 2016 Barnet Council employs 1633 staff and consultant spend was £17, 907,052
For the first quarter of this year Barnet Council has spent £6,926,170 if this is pattern continues the Council could break £20,000,000 on agency/consultancy spend.
On Monday 12 September all Barnet Library staff were brought together to be told that 46% of staff will be sacked.
They are being sacked because this was the only way Barnet Council says they can save £2.85 million
I want to be clear on where Barnet UNISON stand on this disgraceful attack on the Barnet Library service.
This is not a transformation this an expensive destruction of an excellent Library service that only this year received a 93% customer satisfaction rating.
It is simply not sustainable for any politician in Barnet Council to continue to promote Austerity in one of the richest boroughs in London. Furthermore the rapidly growing population of Barnet makes a mockery of the destructive decimation of the Barnet Library service. We need to talking about increasing the Library Service not cutting and making it less safe for children and less accessible for people with disabilities.
The answer is clear for anyone who want to see.
Barnet UNISON has historically challenged senior officers in Barnet on their dependence on agency/consultancy, each year a new set of senior officers sit round the table and nod and agree that it needs addressing.
But take another look at the figures. They are increasing each year and at the same time the council work force is shrinking.
Then there are the ongoing redundancy payments Barnet Council is funding and remember this Barnet Council also funded the redundancy costs of the hundreds of jobs lost when Capita took over Council services in 2013 and moved jobs to Belfast, Blackburn, Carlisle etc.
Something is seriously wrong.
For the sake of all frontline services which includes social care and Libraries, Barnet Council need to drop the “outsourcing ideology” and tackle the agency/consultancy spend.
It’s not too late, drop the destructive plans for Barnet Library Service and let’s rebuild and support a frontline service that has the backing of Barnet residents.
Initial Response to Libraries Review Staff Consultation, 28th July 2016
Barnet UNISON response to Barnet Council sacking 46% of Library workers
UNIFIED PAY UPDATE 13 September 2016
To: All Barnet UNISON members employed directly by Barnet Council (including schools) only.
Contact details:
Members can contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Deadlines
I know that before the summer there was a lot of pressure placed on staff to submit appeals even if they were unsure of the grounds. I can advise all of our members that as long as they have registered the appeal and notified the branch then they will have a 1:1, or a group meeting if the appeal is a collective appeal, with UNISON. Once you have met with UNISON, depending on the agreed way forward, UNISON will deal directly with the Unified pay team and HR. If you are unsure about any of the advice please contact the branch.
Submit your Appeals
Please submit your Appeal to Unified Reward Team, HR Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP.
Collective issues
For example where there are number of workers with the same job description all raising the same issue for example Nursery Nurses, TA’s on 52 week contracts, Coach Escorts. Meal Time Supervisors.
Individual issues.
There can be a myriad of issues, which is why it is important that UNISON members with any concerns make urgent contact with the UNISON office
There are two groups of workers Barnet UNISON is currently supporting.
1. Council corporate workforce (not schools)
Over the summer break I have been meeting with some of our members to discuss the details of their issues. These have been a mixture of collective and individual issues. Individual issues will need to be dealt with in 1:1 meetings with UNISON. If you have an individual issue and you have not yet been contacted by UNISON, please contact the branch.
Below is a brief overview of the collective issues in the various Service Delivery Units which I am pushing to be resolved over the next few weeks.
Street Scene
I have had meetings with HR and management to look at the following roles
- Coach Escorts
- Commercial Vehicle Technicians
- Waste & Recycling drivers
Adults
There are a number of individual appeals/issues
Two local agreements covering Weekend Working and Practice Teaching payments have been signed off
Commissioning
I have begun discussions with HR about a number of posts which will befollwoing up with individual members in due course.
Family Services
- Duty Support Officer
- Personal Advisor
The above roles have been the subject of a number of discussions as to how to move forward.
The Library service has recently submitted a local agreement for Sunday working payments, which is due to be signed off.
2. Council school staff (does not include Faith, Voluntary Aided schools and Academies)
The UNISON school team is now available to support members. Louis Smyth on Mondays & Tuesdays, and Nadia Joseph on Fridays during Term Time.
The following posts are subject to collective appeals with discussions due to start with the Council. If you are in one of the posts below and you are projected to lose pay in April 2018 it is important that you submit the appeal form before 19 September and send a copy to the UNISON office.
- Nursery Nurses (retainer issue)
- Teaching Assistants (52 week contract issue)
- Meal Time Supervisors
If you have any issues that are not included in the above three roles please submit the appeal form before 19 September and send a copy to the UNISON office.
3. Do I need to sign or not sign my new contract?
Barnet Council has already issued all its corporate staff (not schools) with new contracts following the Unified Pay agreement.
The letter accompanying the contract asks staff to sign the new contract detailing the new Terms & Conditions.
Whilst the majority of workers will have no concerns about signing the new contract there are some who will want to seek advice before signing.
For example any worker who is querying their new grade or the content of the Terms & Conditions.
I have spoken to the Council and no worker will be told they have to sign the contract immediately.
Please make sure you keep a copy of your contract in a safe place.
If you are in doubt ring the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk in order we can provide some advice.
If anyone feels they are being forced into signing the contract please make urgent contact with the UNISON office.
**** SCHOOLS STAFF. At some point Barnet Council issue new contracts to all their school staff, when the branch is notified we will alert our members to the above advice.
Contact details:
Members can contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Health warning: Staff less Libraries coming to a Library near you
Further Response to the Library Restructure Staff Consultation
Further Response to the Library Restructure Staff Consultation
Call for Extension
Barnet UNISON repeats the call for an extension of the Staff Consultation period, while acknowledging that the Council did not limit this to the legal minimum of 45 days. However, our members have not received all the information they have requested during the consultation period. Neither has Barnet UNISON to date received responses to all points we have raised.
Our members still await answers to questions regarding their pensions and other financial matters. Some members have not had the 1 to 1 meeting with their managers and HR to which they are entitled. This lack of information makes it difficult for our members to take the important decisions that the restructure will impose.
UNSON also has concerns over the nature of the 1 to 1 sessions. These should be conducted so colleagues can learn how the proposed restructure will affect them and in order to have their specific personal and wider concerns answered. However, questions are being put to Library staff by the Council regarding the rationale of the library cuts and they are being asked for alternatives to the library cuts. This is not the forum for the Council to ask individual members of staff these questions, many of whom will already find the 1 to 1 meetings a difficult and stressful process. » Read more